Air-cooled safety tire



E. VON BON HORST AIR-cooLED SAFETY TIRE Aug. 16, 1938.

Filed Feb. 16, 1958 EARL l//V BOA/HORST QSA 3 5 Patented Aug. A16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT lori-ICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an air-cooled safety tire.

An object of the invention is the construction, preferably from a single blank, of a novel rimstructure including a central rim unit and outer rim units, held in their folded or final position by an efficient spoke arrangement.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a rim-structure which includes an air-cooled unit, and which rim-structure is of considerable strength, while at the same time being comparatively simple and inexpensive to construct.

A still further object of the invention is to improve the construction of an air-cooled safety tire, as shown and specifically described in my prior United States Patent No. 2,097,748, issued' November 2, 1937.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a tire constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, perspectvie View of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, plan view of a blank prior to bending or folding into the final shape of the device, as seen in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the device, showing particularly the spoke attaching feature, while Figure 6 is a similar view of another embodiment.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, I designates preferably a hollow spoke of an ordinary wheel (not shown) to which is secured in the manner hereinafter described, the rim-structure which is preferably formed from a single blank, as illustrated in Figure 4. This rim structure comprises a central rim unit 2 and integral outer rim units 3. The central rim unit 2 comprises a hollow body portion l terminating in inwardlyextending parallel legs 5. These legs 5 are provided with pairs of registering spacing lugs 6 that are normally in engagement at their inner ends, when the blank has been folded, as shown in Figure 3. These lugs 6 may be oi' the form (ci. 152-453)l the flat portions 1 of the outer rim units (Figs.

3 and 5). By this arrangement the rim structure cannot spread apart, even though undue pressure is placed thereon, besides the parallel legs are held in a substantial and true position for keeping a suflicient clearance to allow free air circulation into the air-cooling chamber IIJ,` for best results. The spacing lugs 6 will prevent closing of the passage between the parallel legs, even though some undue pressure, as accidental bending, is placed upon the rim-structure.

In Figure 6 there is shown a modification of the rim-structure, in which sockets I I are formed; these sockets being screw threaded on their outer wall to receive the screw threads I2 of spokes Ia. In this manner a Very efficient attaching means is provided, insuring too of the uniform spacing of the legs of the central rim unit, holding the folded blank in an efficient position, once it has been assembled or formed into shape, as seen in Figures 1 and 3.

In Figure 4, the valve aperture I3 is formed for receiving the valve unit I4. The lugs 6 are pressed in the blank, and the dotted lines I5 represent the position of the spokes' I and Ia in the assembly. 'I'he spokes are placed on what might be called the lines of fold I6,-Fig. 4, and when soplaced they act to lock or bind the blank in its folded position. Therefore, it will be understood that the spokes support the rim-structure; they also perform the additional function of holding the' legs 5 in their normal parallel position, while at the same time they donot interfere with the free circulation of cooling air'into the interior of the tire.

A standard shoe I1 is placed upon the rimstructure in any suitable manner. This shoe I'l has an outer hard rubber thread I8 with an inner fabric unit I9. An inner tube 20 is placed in the shoe I9 and this tube 20 conforms to the shape of the shoe and the central rim unit 2. The central rim unit 2 is faced or covered 'on its outside with a light weight canvas 2I. valve unit I4 extends at its inner end into the The' compartment or chamber formed by tube 20, in the same manner described and shown in my prior Patent No. 2,097,748.

This improved tire does not in any way ail'ect the true running qualities of they wheels on which it' is mounted, and adds very little weight over an ordinary tire, While the tire of this invention is cooled by drawing 01T the traction heat. 'Ihis invention also practically eliminates any dangers attended on a. blow-out, because if a blow-out occurred the wheel would only drop about two to two and one-half inches or no more than if the tire was under-inflated, as indicated clearly by dotted lines "A", Fig. 1. This position shown by dotted lines A" would prevent the squeezing of the shoe out from under the edges of the primary rim, and thereby eliminate the sharp swerving of the car, whereby accidents occasionedby blowouts are prevented, inasmuch as the car is allowed to travel in a straight line to a normal stop. Of course, if necessary, the car could be driven on the deflated position, as indicated by dotted lines A.

It is to be understood that I may use solid spokes in this invention (not shown) if I desire, for by reason of forming my rim-structure in one piece or out of a blank, an open-ended slit, so to speak, is formed between the parallel legs. permitting free entrance of air into the cooling chamber Il), without impairing the eiliciency of the spokes, in so far as they are excellent supporting means for the rim-structure as well as the binding or locking means: for holding the rimstructure from spreading, including the retaining of the parallel legs 5 in their tr-,uea'ssembled position. A

While I have described the preferred embodiments of my invention and illustrated'the same in the accompanying drawing. certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same and I,

thereforel reserve the right to make such alterations and changes as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an air-cooled tire, the combination of a rim-structure including a central rim unit provided with parallel legs having radially inner ends, and spokes having their radially outer ends directly attached to the radially inner ends of said parallel legs.

2. In an air-cooled tire, the combination of a rim-structure including parallel legs terminating at their radially inner ends in at portions, spokes secured at their radially outer ends directly to said dat portions and spanning the distance between the radially inner ends of said legs. and each spoke serving as a fastening means for securing said legs in their assembled position.

3. In an air-cooled tire, the combination of a rim-structure including spaced legs having radially inner ends integral with horizontal at portions, said dat portions and the radially inner sockets, and spokes having their radially outer ends screwed into said screw-threaded'sockets and spanning across the space between said legs.

4. In an air-cooled tire, the combination of a rim-structure provided with spaced legs having radially inner ends and spaced outer rim portions, and spokes having their radially outer ends directly engaging and supporting said outer rim portions and iixedly securing said spaced legs in spaced position.

5. In an air-cooled tire, the combination of an inner sheet-metal rim unit comprising parallel legs provided at their radially inner ends with integral outstanding iiat portions, a spoke having its radially outer end secured to the radially inner ends of said parallel legs and the flat portions, and the radially outer end of said spoke also bridging the space between said parallel legs.

EARL VON BON HORST.

4ends of said legs provided with screw-threaded 

